Booster laws in CA

jdchic3

New member
I can't remember what the law is for seatbelt use in CA. Is it 6 AND 60 lbs or 6 OR 60 lbs? Also does anyone have a link to the five steps a child needs to pass for a seatbelt? Thanks!
 
ADS

MomToEliEm

Moderator
It is 6 or 60 pounds
http://www.chp.ca.gov/community/safeseat.html
Children MUST be secured in an appropriate child passenger restraint (safety seat or booster seat) IN THE BACK SEAT OF A VEHICLE until they are at least 6 years old or weigh at least 60 pounds.

I did find this document:
http://www.carseat.org/Legal/99_Enf.pdf
Q — When is it legal for a child to wear just a vehicle safety belt?
A —Although a child who is at least age 6 or weighs at least 60 lbs. is not specifically required to ride in a booster, the law requires proper use of safety belts. Most children are not tall enough until about age 10-12 for vehicle belts to fit properly without a booster. Examples of improper and dangerous use: shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back, lap belt on the tummy instead of the upper thighs.
That proper use clause might be enough to get older kids back in booster seats.

Here is a 5-step pdf you could print off
http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.pdf
 

Qarin

New member
CVC 27360 says that a child must be in a booster or child restraint system:

unless the child
is one of the following:
(A) Six years of age or older.
(B) Sixty pounds or more.

So, that's six years old or sixty pounds.

But! And this is a large but:

27360.5. (a) No parent or legal guardian, when present in a motor
vehicle, as defined in Section 27315, may permit his or her child or
ward who is six years of age or older, but less than 16 years of age,
or who is less than six years of age and weighs 60 pounds or more to
be transported upon a highway in the motor vehicle without properly
securing
the child or ward in an appropriate child passenger
restraint system or safety belt meeting applicable federal motor
vehicle safety standards.

If a child over 6 but under 16 years old cannot be properly secured in a safety belt (adult seat belt), then something else must be done (most likely, a booster seat).

Here is a link to the 5-step test for readiness for an adult seat belt:

http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm
 

ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
Yep. 6 or 60, but with a proper use clause on the seatbelt. Also 6 or 60 to ride in the front seat unless the seat cannot be properly used in the back seat, there is no back seat, there is a medical reason to ride in the front (with doctor's note), or there are already children under 12 occupying all back seat positions.

Proper use of the seatbelt clause is almost never enforced in most parts of CA, but it IS the law (and a few departments are good about enforcing it.)
 

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